Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or associated characters. I'm not JKR or Scholastic or Bloomsbury Books. Also, Spindle's End, which I quote, is owned by Robin McKinley, not me! I do own Stanley Goatshep, and Alexandra and Sophia Nott a.k.a. Moondrift. So ask nicely before you use them!
Hermione's Secret
Part 2
The next morning Hermione and Ron each avoided the other's glance. The only time they spoke was to say things like "pass the jam" or "d'ya want the last scone?" and then only with downcast eyes and much blushing. Somehow neither of them could work up the courage to look at each other all day long.
After a long and somewhat silent day, since she had not talked to Ron, Hermione returned to find another envelope pinned to her door:
Hermione,
My office again tonight at
8 PM sharp. You're still not in
trouble. Be ready for another story!
And don't have on that look of
amusement I know is on
your face now.
-M. McGonagall
Once again Hermione got ready to go see McGonagall. What kind of story would McGonagall have this time? Well, she would have to go see for herself.
"Hello again, Hermione," McGonagall said, ushering Hermione into her cozy office. "Are you ready for another harrowing tale of romance?"
"Umm… sure, Professor, I suppose," Hermione answered, not realizing the professor was attempting a joke. "Although I must admit, I am rather bewildered as to why you are telling me these stories."
"All in due time, dear. All in due time," McGonagall replied. "Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to start my story. By the by, help yourself to tea…"
"So, the story… You remember the girl I told you about? Well, another reason she accepted the proposal of Mr. Goatshep was because she had a child- a baby girl by the name of Alexandra Nott. You may be wondering how she had a baby if she was not married. Well, she and Arthur were in love and faced with the fact that they would most likely never see each other again, so they made the most of the time they had. Arthur never knew about Alexandra. The girl didn't know about her baby until she was forbidden any contact with Arthur. The situation was very sad. The girl has still never told Arthur about his daughter; he probably even believes her to be dead now. This girl had a very difficult life, Hermione. She-"
"Wait, Professor! Isn't there a Hufflepuff named Nott here at Hogwarts?" Hermione interrupted.
"Yes, but that's Ian Nott, of no relation to the girl whom I am speaking of. As I was saying, this girl and her daughter Alexandra have had a very difficult life. They have lived in fear of Voldemort most of their life. Alexandra's mother was very active in the Order of the Sphinx, which was a covert operation aiming to destroy the Dark Lord. Harry's parents were staunch supporters and members too, which made them a target. When Alexandra and her mother were finally persuaded to come out of hiding last year, Voldemort had come back again. They are again in danger. They are petrified and meanwhile his return to full power grows more and more imminent. You still wonder why I tell you this, I see it on your face," McGonagall said, reading Hermione's expression.
"Well, yes, Professor," Hermione admitted. "I do wonder who this girl is and why she is so important to you."
"Hermione, the girl, Sophia Nott, is my sister. Alexandria is my niece."
"Oh," Hermione said in shock. She began to leave, but apparently McGonagall was not finished.
"Hermione, before you go I must tell you: Sybil Trelawney has had a vision of a certain redhead also. You know I put no store in Divination, so my advice to you is to tread carefully, but be happy. Fates know someone should be able to be."
~*~‚ ~*~
Hermione was once again bewildered as she returned to the Gryffindor common room. "Hogwash!" she muttered to the Fat Lady. She was ready to retreat to a nice warm bed and get the worries of Professor McGonagall's sister and the prophecy out of her head. "Tut, tut," scolded the Fat Lady. "You know I change the password every Wednesday. You used the new one a few hours ago. Try again."
Hermione wracked her brain. "Er… oh yes! Aurora borealis! Although, I don't see WHY you insist on changing the password every few days! Why not every few weeks? Months? Years? Never? It would certainly save me some cerebration!"
As she stepped into the common room, Hermione fully expected to see Ron again. Fortunately it was even later than when she came back the night before. The common room was quite deserted. Hermione was glad. But was she glad? Did she really want Ron to be there? After all, it had been a rather enjoyable kiss.
"Stop it!" she said aloud to herself. She headed upstairs to her room. A good hot bath and a warm bed were exactly what she needed to mull over Ron's kiss and McGonagall's stories.
~*~‚ ~*~
Hermione woke up with a start. "Ginny?" she cried, seeing two blue eyes staring at her amidst a mass of red curls. "What are you doing in here?" The clock on her nightstand read 12:51 am.
"We have to talk. Do you know what is wrong with Ron? He has been acting so strange lately. I am really worried about him. I almost wrote to Mum, but she has enough worries already," Ginny said.
"I am not sure what is wrong with Ron," Hermione replied, waking a bit. "We had a horrid row a few days ago, but I don't think that is it… I don't think…"
"Hermione, you do not seem certain. Did something happen that I should know about?"
"No!" she said a bit too quickly. "No."
"If you say so, Hermione. If you think of anything that might be making Ron act out of sorts, please tell me," Ginny requested.
"I will, Ginny. Good night." With that, Hermione fell back asleep, not even hearing Ginny say, "You two think you're not blindingly obvious! Ha!" and let herself out.
~*~‚ ~*~
Hermione awoke a second time to a bright sunrise peeking through her window. "Miss Hermione!" squeaked a tiny, long-nosed creature beside her. Hermione sat up in bed with a start.
"Winky! You gave me a fright!" Hermione said to the house elf beside her.
"Winky has been asked to bring Hermione to Dumbly-dore's office," she said, referring to herself in third person as house elves are occasionally apt to do.
Dumbledore's office? Hermione wondered what she had possibly done wrong. It could not have been the episode with Ron. After all, it was not Hermione that initiated the kiss. "Winky, please tell Dumbledore I will be there as soon as I am dressed," Hermione said, dismissing the house elf. She had come to accept that most house elves were perfectly satisfied being unpaid and under-appreciated.
Hermione pulled on a pair of jeans and a green sweater Mrs. Weasley had knitted for her. Walking through the deserted common room, she went to find Dumbledore.
~*~‚ ~*~
To be continued…
